Removal of Antimony and Bismuth from Copper Electrorefining Electrolyte: Part II -- An Investigation of Two Proprietary Solvent Extraction Extractants

Abstract

Antimony and bismuth recovery from copper electrorefining electrolyte could reduce the impacts of these problem elements and produce a new primary source for them. Two proprietary phosphonic acid ester extractants were examined (REX-1 and REX-2) for the removal of antimony and bismuth from copper electrorefining electrolytes. Experimentation included shakeout and break tests to determine the basic parameters for the extractants in terms of maximum loading, break times, and extraction and stripping efficiency. Five permutations of extractant mixtures (100 wt.% REX-1 and 25 wt.%, 50 wt.%, 75 wt.% and 100 wt.% REX-2) were studied. It was determined that REX-2 was able to extract Sb and Bi from the electrolyte, but required some mixture with REX-1 to better facilitate stripping with 400 g/L sulfuric acid. The laboratory electrorefining electrolyte containing glue had faster disengagement times than a synthetic solution without glue.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Antimony; Bismuth; Copper; Glues; Gluing; Mixtures; Solvent extraction, Basic parameters; Copper electrorefining; Electrorefining; Maximum loading; Phosphonic acids; Primary sources; Stripping efficiency; Synthetic solutions, Electrolytes

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1047-4838; 1543-1851

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2018 Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Dec 2018

Link to Full Text

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